The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-24
Five Hundred oysters in One Hour.

Reporters, inspectors and night watch
man see some peculiar sights, many of
which are laughable, but there was a little
scene in the Coffee John oyster house. at
213 Nicollet, at an early hour Sunday
morning, which caused more laughter to the
square spectator than Sol Smith Russell or
any other combination yet produced. At
about so a. m, as Coffee john" the pro-
prietor of the place, was finishing a hearty
meal including a large porterhouse steak, a
certain physician who is well-known as a
man-about town dropped in and as he wait
ed for his stew, the conversation drifted to
the subject of opening oysters. To the sur
prise of all present, including several local
sports, John proposed to eat 500 oysters in
two hours and declared that he would back
the offer by risking $40 on his ability to get
away with that number. The money was
put uparI quickly covered. A stakeholder
and timekeeper were appointed and the
oysters counted. The oysters were to be
opened and eaten in two hours, and when
the doctor saw the two large pals filled
with huge oysters in the shell, he felt very
certain Of going home with 500 in his inside
pocket. The game was called at AS with
half a dozen persons present. At about 2
O'Clock q reporter and two or three others
dropped in. An attendant was allowed to
keep oysters constantly at hand, and the
eater proceeded to open and flip into his
mouth oyster after oyster until 125 had dis
appeared. He then took a recess and ate
not more than dozen oysters until o'clock,
the time from 2:15 until 8 being occupied in
opening the remaining l25 in the first pail
and steamng in the shell the full $50 con-
tanned in pail No ?.
At a. IN. the stew containg 1875 mature.
fullblown oysters being cooked and the $50
being sufficiently steamed to open easily, the
two lots were punched, making 315 oysters
on one large dish. In bulk they would have
measured something over three solid quarts
and were of several pounds weight.
As John seated himself to this meal it was
remarked by nearly all the spectators that
no live man could eat all those oysters"
but the wife of the oyster man, who until
now had looked nervous and worried as if
she was ready to run for physician or call
the police at moments notice, now got her
courage and offered TO make little side bet
of $40 that her superior nine tenths would
eat the oysters and win his wager. Her
money was covered by the stakeholder of
the first bet, and other bets were made in
the crowd. At 3:l8 Coffee John took sec
ond recess, this time taking short walk in
the open air. There was a great deal of
banter and chin going as the programme
was carried out. On returning John opened
a fresh bottle of ale and began again. 1t
soon became evident that he was full, and,
with $50 oysters yet before him he ran his
finger down his throat with the usual re-
suit, and returned to the conquest. This
process he continued, filing and emptving
his stomach alternately while there were
repeated encores on the emptying act, One
gentleman was so affected by it that he was
obliged to seek the restoring influence of a
breath of outside air. The excitement for
a time was considerable and the remarks
were many. No more bets were closed, and
at 1886 Coffee John deposited oyster No
500 with 10 minutes to spare. He was
cheered to as great an extent as the hour of
the night would permit, and the doctor de
clared that he didn't suppose 1t possible, and
that he should HAYS the occurrence placed
on record in the annals of medical expert
ence. The oyster man declared at the close
Of the ordeal that he felt as well as when
beginning. In the two hours he ate large
number OF crackers, drank a considerable
quantity Of strong coffee and disposed of
three bottles of ale, At o'clock yesterday
afternoon he was seen by reporter and
declared that he slept we'll during the night,
ate hearty breakfast this morning, and ex-
perienced no Inconvenience from his ex-
plot He wants to close bet of 81, 900 that
he can eat 1 900 oysters in four hours.